Water temperature is extremely important in determining the rate at which you fish. As a general rule, the warmer the water, the faster your retrieve should be. This is due to the fact that a bass’s metabolism speeds up in warmer water, which in turn makes them more active and willing to chase a bait. On the contrary, when the water is cold, like it is now, the bass are very lethargic. This means that you have to slow down your presentations and fish as slowly as you possibly can, in order to get them to strike.